The NCAA basketball tournament is one of the nation's most treasured rites of spring, in large part due to the annual rise of the "Cinderella team." Each year, one such underdog overachieves in making it to the tournament and competing well until, almost inevitably, the clock strikes midnight on its magical run.

At the NCAA women's water polo tournament in Bloomington, Ind., this past weekend, the clock struck midnight on the Crimson not once but three times.

The Crimson (18-12), the lowest seed in the 16-team field, left the National Championships at Indiana University with a 1-3 record. The weekend began with a loss to top-ranked Stanford, 17-6. The Crimson went on to lose its first two consolation games, with a 12-6 defeat at the hands of No. 9 Hawaii on Friday and a close 8-6 setback to 13th-seeded Loyola Marymount on Saturday. Harvard salvaged its weekend with a win in the 15th-place game against Michigan.

The results were a mildly disappointing end to a spectacular season for the Crimson. Harvard's appearance was its first at Nationals in seven years, and the trip solidified its standing as one of the best water polo team's in the east.

Unfortunately for the Crimson, 11 of the 16 teams in the field were from out west.

Stanford 17, Harvard 6

Harvard's first national competition since 1993 opened against perennial powerhouse Stanford. The Cardinal (27-5) entered the NCAA tournament riding an 11-game winning streak, a run that included victories against No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 California and No. 4 USC. Stanford boasted two 2000 Olympic team members and another player in the midst of a 23-game scoring streak.

The Crimson, meanwhile, had qualified for the tournament by clinching the last of three spots awarded to the eastern half of the country. Stanford, having dominated the traditionally stronger west, was heavily favored.